Dragon Age II Legacy DLC focuses on Hawke’s other side of the family

Dragon Age II is a framed story. Players experience the tale of the Champion of Kirkwall as Varric narrates it. There’s a definitive beginning, middle and end and that leaves little room for stories that BioWare could tell after the finale. The ending is vague and players don’t really know what happens to Hawke after the final confrontation in the city. On top of that, the multiple endings through a wrench into things and it left me wondering how the developers would fit the expected downloadable content in.

But hand it to BioWare for coming up with a clever way of introducing it. Players going through Dragon Age II Legacy, the first major story-based DLC, will see a special statue in Hawke’s home. (It’s either the fancy mansion or his hovel earlier in the game.) Legacy itself explores Hawke’s lineage. Sure, players know about the hero’s mother, but they know little about the champion’s father. The DLC sets out to answer those questions.

A FORGOTTEN TALE? It’s told in the same way as the regular game. Varric is still being interrogated by Cassandra, but she tells him that he left something out. There was a side adventure that isn’t in the record. Varric’s taken aback by the topic, and with some hesitation, he goes into it.

Hawke’s investigating why the Carta dwarven syndicate is targeting the team again, and his adventure takes him to the Vimmark Mountains. BioWare listened to fans and they let them explore the area around Kirkwall more. It’s during this adventure there that players will discover that Hawke’s father, Malcolm, was Grey Warden mage and that he had a special role in the organization.

OUTSIDE OF KIRKWALL: Beyond the mountains, the campaign will take Hawke to an ancient Grey Warden prison that jails a powerful evil. The adventure will also unlock a special upgradeable weapon called the Key. It’s supposed to be an uber weapon, and players can take it with them outside of the DLC and into the main campaign.

As for the new stuff aside from the more detailed lands and story, players will see new enemies like a new Darkspawn called the Genlock Alpha. The new foe uses a shield and they have smarter AI. In addition, other enemies will take advantage of their environment for more difficult and strategic battles.

HARDER BATTLES: Players won’t be able to rush in and make me explode. (I liked it when my Hawke did that.) They’ll have to maneuver their squad to take out archers atop hills or send warriors to take them out. Elsewhere, they may have to distract the Genlock Alpha while another player sneaks behind for backstab. I’m talking to you rogues. Along with the new enemies, old foes such as the Pride Demon will have some new moves and players will have to come up with fresh ways of dealing with them.

When it comes to length, fans can expect a hefty adventure that’s longer than other DLC for Dragon Age: Origins. So if you can’t get enough of Hawke and the cast of allies (Yes, you’ll be able to use everyone including Sebastian Vael and Hawke’s sister), then this DLC could be worth your time if you have a lot of it this summer. Dragon Age II Legacy is scheduled for release on July 26.